Lincoln, Maine-based Penobscot Valley Hospital has begun notifying patients and employees that their personal information may have been compromised in a data security incident first detected nearly six months ago.
The hospital was alerted to suspicious activity in its IT environment on Jan. 28. It secured its systems, brought in third-party forensic specialists and notified law enforcement.
On Feb. 12, the investigation determined an unauthorized individual may have accessed certain files and folders. It wasn’t until June 4 that the investigation confirmed personal information and protected health information may have been in the affected files.
The exposed information varied by individual but could have included names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, medical information and financial information, according to a statement posted on the hospital’s website.
Penobscot Valley Hospital is offering complimentary identity monitoring services to affected individuals.
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